The Christmas holidays are a welcome respite from the busy school calendar.
This holiday is too short to get a new job or tackle a large project,
but they are long enough for you to catch up on your sleep and spend some
quality time with friends and family members. Although getting some rest
and relaxation is important for you to recharge, you can also use this
opportunity to prepare for next semester.

Catch up on your reading during your Christmas break. Ask your teachers
for reading lists and get started on reading you will struggle to find
the time to do next year. Read books you are interested in so that you
can still relax. Reading a couple of books during your break will really
help take the pressure off you in the new year and leave you with more
time to pursue other interests.

If you are working towards your college or university application, consider
using this time to volunteer. There are many volunteer opportunities as
people who usually volunteer are away on holiday. Consider a volunteer
job in the field that you wish to study. Not only will this help with
your college application, but you will also find it a hugely rewarding
activity and an avenue for personal growth.

Get moving! Healthy bodies mean healthy minds and if you don’t have
much time for your favourite sports, use your break to catch up on your
exercise. Christmas break gives you the opportunity for skiing, snowboarding,
tobogganing, skating, hiking or indoor sports. Have some fun, get a little
exercise and help your body to reduce toxins and build muscle.

Get a hobby. Whether your hobby is building model airplanes, cooking or
learning a new language, participating in a hobby that interests you will
give you the opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people. Hobbies
make you a more interesting, well-rounded individual and reduce the stress
you have accrued during the school term. If you are not sure what hobbies
suit you best, try the list of
101 hobbies or the world’s largest
list of hobbies.

Christmas clean ups help you to sort through your closets and get your
room in order. You won’t have time to get your living space organized
during the school year, so take this opportunity to go through your closets
and collect everything you don’t need or use. Encourage the rest
of your family to join in and then donate the stuff you don’t want
to a charitable organization. If you have valuable items, sell them on
eBay and use the money to buy Christmas meals and gifts for those less fortunate.

With back to school right around the corner, many students will find themselves rushing to get ready for the new school year. To make life a little easier, here are some great tips for getting and staying academically organized!

Students are extremely talented in many areas, but sometimes their emotions can get the best of them. What do you do when your student gets frustrated with schoolwork? Here are some reasons they might be upset - and ways to help them out.